In patch 4.1 we'll be introducing Dungeon Finder: Call to Arms, a new system intended to lower queue times. Call to Arms will automatically detect which class role is currently the least represented in the queue, and offer them additional rewards for entering the Dungeon Finder queue and completing a random level-85 Heroic dungeon.

Any time the Dungeon Finder queue is longer than a few minutes for level-85 Heroics, the Call to Arms system kicks in and determines which role is the least represented. In the case of tanking being the least represented role, the "Call to Arms: Tanks" icon will display in the Dungeon Finder UI menu where class roles are selected, and will also display on the UI when the queue pops and you are selected to enter a dungeon. Regardless of your role, you'll always be able to see which role currently has been Called to Arms, if any.

Call to Arms is meant to lower wait times by offering additional rewards for queuing as the currently least represented role. To be eligible for the additional rewards you must solo queue for a random level-85 Heroic in the role that is currently being Called to Arms, and complete the dungeon by killing the final boss. Every time you hit these requirements (there is no daily limit) you'll receive a goodie bag that will contain some gold, a chance at a rare gem, a chance at a flask/elixir (determined by spec), a good chance of receiving a non-combat pet (including cross faction pets), and a very rare chance at receiving a mount. The pets offered come from a wide variety of sources, and include companions like the Razzashi Hatchling, Cockatiel, and Tiny Sporebat, but the mounts are those specifically only available through dungeons (not raids), like the Reins of the Raven Lord from Sethekk Halls, Swift White Hawkstrider from Magister's Terrace, and Deathcharger's Reins from Stratholme.

This system is meant to address the unacceptable queue times currently being experienced by those that queue for the DPS role at max level. The long queue times are, of course, caused by a very simple lack of representation in the Dungeon Finder by tanks, and to some extent healers. We don't feel the tanking and healing roles have any inherent issues that are causing the representation disparity, except that fulfilling them carries more responsibility. Understandably, players prefer to take on that responsibility in more organized situations than what the Dungeon Finder offers, but perhaps we can bribe them a little. While this system gives tanks and healers something extra, the incentive is being provided so that we can help players in the DPS role get into more dungeons, get better gear, and continue progressing.

While the gold, gems, flasks, and elixirs are OK incentives, we knew we needed something more substantial. We had briefly considered Valor Points and epics, but decided that wouldn't be working toward the goal of helping DPS players progress, and ultimately wouldn't keep tanks and healers in the Dungeon Finder system for very long. We settled on pets and dungeon-found mounts as they’re cosmetic/achievement items that players tend to try to get on their own, so why not change that up and offer them a chance to get some of those elusive pets and mounts in a way that also helps other players? Even if they don't get a pet or mount, or get one they already have, the gold and other goodies still feel rewarding enough that it won't feel like a waste of effort.

We think it's a pretty solid incentive to get tanks and healers queuing, give max-level players another way to collect the pets and mounts they so desire, and above all, to improve wait times for DPS players sitting in queues. In the case of lower level dungeons, it's actually not uncommon for DPS to be the least represented role, and so if this new system works out and we're pleased with the results, we may consider applying this same mechanic to lower level dungeons as well.

As a DPS, I am at a disadvantage soloing some content to receive these mounts to begin with. Now they are being offered as a reward to tanks, who already have instant queues and are payed small fortunes of gold to tank a single heroic.

I am now rather upset with Blizzard. : /. It's a lazy solution and a simple bandage to a simple problem: It's not that there aren't enough tanks, it's that there aren't enough classes that CAN tank. Like the aesthetics of being a Shaman, but want to tank? Too bad. "Hybridizing" all the pure classes, though it would admittedly be a bitch to balance, would help to solve this problem a lot.

EDIT: Also, first; my first first. A first of firsts. Sorry, had to get that out of my system!

You want to tank as a shaman? If it were up to you, there would be no classes in wow, just one class that can do everything. Everyone has the same abilities, etc. So boring.

Expecting queues to drop in time is just wishful thinking.
Ok yeah, maybe it will drop but do you honestly think that 28 min queues will all of a sudden be reduced to 10? Hah...
I think not. While the idea behind it is a valid one, the execution isn't and everyone who disagrees is just being naive.
Shouthing thinkgs in bold and caps like QUEUES WILL DROP. Maybe but it fails to address the real problem.
A couple post above you can see the real problem at hand and that's mentality.
I myself am a Shadowpriest, will this make me queue as a healer? Hell no, why? Because I choose not to be. I have healed before but you can't heal stupidity. All this will do is give Leeroys the idea of going tank/healer because they think they can reap the benefits while in reality the standard of already appalling pugs will only drop further into abyss.
That's all there's to it

If the problem is that tanks have outgeared the heroics and don't need neither VPs or gear, then tanks won't queue until Call to Arms is triggered. Why queue for a heroic if you don't need the gear and you aren't getting the extra rewards?.

Bottom line.. you are either a tank or you are not. They have tried to push people more and more into guilds... then are surprised when guild tanks burn out and very rarely run LFG.

IF anything, it will entice tanks to run more guild runs because they feel confident in that group clearing it quickly for his chance at some mount... but pugging? I foresee an influx of peeps who are simply not tanks... tanking for the sake of mounts.

No... my suggestion would be that there are NEW rewards systems put in place. Right now we have valor/justice. Add a third that are only earned thru dungeons... and taking a LOT to points to buy BiS pieces (say 2 pieces) It would take a couple months to earn both pieces doing say 5 dungeons a day. By then a new tier would open up and you would add new BiS slot pieces...

These pieces would be BIS for that new tier raid... meaning you could NOT get better EVEN in Normal raids. No doubt we would see tanks guilded and unguilded running dungeons all day long.

If the problem is that tanks have outgeared the heroics and don't need neither VPs or gear, then tanks won't queue until Call to Arms is triggered. Why queue for a heroic if you don't need the gear and you aren't getting the extra rewards?.

Social aspect of game, personally I love tanking and socializing with different people all the time, VP also stays as highest currency in game, so why not safe extra thousand or two for upcoming tiers.

Great now we will get total nabs that don't know a thing about tanking, queueing all the time and the best part is they will get rare mounts and pets as a reward YAY!!!
On a side note I hope this works out in a positive way and doesn't make pugs any worse then they already are : (

Bottom line.. you are either a tank or you are not. They have tried to push people more and more into guilds... then are surprised when guild tanks burn out and very rarely run LFG.

IF anything, it will entice tanks to run more guild runs because they feel confident in that group clearing it quickly for his chance at some mount... but pugging? I foresee an influx of peeps who are simply not tanks... tanking for the sake of mounts.

No... my suggestion would be that there are NEW rewards systems put in place. Right now we have valor/justice. Add a third that are only earned thru dungeons... and taking a LOT to points to buy BiS pieces (say 2 pieces) It would take a couple months to earn both pieces doing say 5 dungeons a day. By then a new tier would open up and you would add new BiS slot pieces...

These pieces would be BIS for that new tier raid... meaning you could NOT get better EVEN in Normal raids. No doubt we would see tanks guilded and unguilded running dungeons all day long.

It's a concept called incentive.

Problem is that BLizzard is very bad at thorycrafting and they are considering like haste boots for feral tanks to be the BiS.

Any pure dps class will have a much harder time getting these rare pets and mounts than classes with a tank spec. If this bothers you immensely, then you can roll a tank. If you aren't too fussed about that (after all, you CAN still get the mounts and pets, it's just a bit harder) then you should applaud this as a way to get shorter queue times.

You guys realize that the tank has to complete the dungeon to get the mount right? So if the tank is a total noob they'll likely get kicked and wont get the reward at all. If they really want the chance at the mount/pet then maybe they'll go read up on their class and suck less.